Magnetically operated switch



Aug. 12, 1941. R. K. KIND '2,252,288

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED SWITCH' Filed Oct. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l [HMM #F21 uw a ZZ 'je INVENTOR.

Aug- 12, 1941- R. K. KIND 2,252,288

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED SWITCH Filed Oct. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE MAGNETICALLY OPERATED SWITCH Rudolf K. Kind, Garden City, N. Y.

Application October 4, 1940, Serial No. 359,715

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a music box and refers more particularly to a switch actuating music box works.

Music box works are often concealed within a box and are provided with a switch which is actuated by a rod or wire carried by the lid of the box. This wire releases the switch as soon as the lid of the box is opened so that the music box works may begin to play. The wire automatically engages the switch, thereby stopping the music box works, as soon as the lid is closed.

It was found that the wire or rod carried by the lid may be easily bent or damaged and then the music box works do not operate properly. Sometimes the iingers of the user are scratched or injured by the projecting end of the wire. The wire and the switch must be brought into alignment with each other while the lid is being closed and if the box is handled roughly, the wire or the switch may be moved to the side with the result that the music box works will continue to play while the lid is closed.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive and sturdy switch operating mechanism which will eliminate the drawbacks of prior art constructions.

Another object is the provision of a switchoperating` mechanism which may be effectively concealed in a box so that it will not interfere with the general use of that box.

A further object is the provision of a remote control for operating the switch of any suitable mechanism, such as music box works.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention, it was found advisable to provide music box works situated within a box with an elongated rod constituting a part of a switch so that a movement of the rod will either release the switch and allow the music box works to operate, or it will stop theI music box works.

In accordance with the present invention, this rod is operated by a magnet situated within the lid of the music box. The closing of the lid brings the magnet into close proximity of the rod so that the magnet will attract the rod and move it to a position in which the switch stops the music box works. As soon as the lid is raised,

the magnetic eld is moved away from the rod, so that the rod will be free to drop to a position in which the music box works can be operated.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a music -box in a closed position partly in front elevation and partly in section.

Figure 2 is partly a top View and partly a section along the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the music box partly in side elevation and partly in section.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 and shows the box with its lid raised.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view along the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 and illustrates the position of various parts ,when the lid is raised.

The music box shown in the drawings includes a bottom I carried by supports or legs II and I2. vThe box has a front wall I3, side walls I4 and I and a rear wall I6.

Hinges I'I connect the rear wall I6 of the box with a lid i8 which includes a top portion I9, a rear portion 2U, sides 2I and 22 and a front portion 23.

The music box works are carried by the bottom I0 of the box and are enclosed by a partition 24.

The music box works include a spring which is enclosed by a protective casing 26 and is wound or tensioned by a key 21 extending through the bottom I0 of the music box.

As the spring 25 proceeds to unwind itself, it transmits its force to a gear wheel 28 which meshes with a pinion 29. The pinion 29 is firmly connected with a large gear wheel 30 which is rotatable along with 'a drum 3l. The drum 3| carries a number of projecting spokes or hammers 32 which are adapted to engage individually the various elements of a reed 33. These elements are of different size andl are so constructed that when the projections 32 pluck or strike them they produce different musical notes.

The gear wheel 30 is also in engagement with a pinion 34 which is rmly connected with a gear wheel 35. The gear wheel 35 meshes with the gear wheel 36 which is integral or rmly connected with a shaft 31. The shaft 31 carries a toothed wheel 38 which meshes with a worm 39. The worm 39 is integral with a shaft 40 which carries a fly wheel 4I and which is supported by a bracket 42.

The switch which stops or releases the music box works includes a lever 43 which carries a bent angular projection 44. In the position shown in Figure 5, the projection 44 engages the ily wheel 4l, serving as a stop for the music box works. In the position shown in Figure 6, when the lid is raised, the projection 44 is situated below the fly wheel 4I, so that the latter is free to rotate.

The lever 43 is pivoted at 45 to a support 46 having a stop 65. An end portion 41 of the lever 43 which may be integral with that lever or be connected therewith by any suitable means, extends through a passage 48 into an inner chamber 49 which is provided in the side wall I5 and which is separated from the interior of the box by an insert 50.

The end 41 of the lever 43 supports a rod 5| which extends vertically in the chamber 49 and the upper end of which carries a weight 52 made of a magnetizable material.

The side wall 22 of the lid I8 has a chamber 53 formed therein which contains a magnet 54.

In the position shown in Figures 4 and 6, the lid I8 is open and the magnet 54 is situated at such a distance from the weight 52 that it has no effect thereon. rlhe weight 52 causes the rod I and the lever 43 connected therewith to remain in their lowermost positions, in which the projection 44 is situated outside of the path of rotation of the fly wheel 4i. If the spring 25 is wound at that time by the key 21, the music box Works will be actuated. The unwinding of the spring 25 will cause the rotation of the gear wheel 28 which will turn the gears 29 and 30, as well as the drum 3l. The rotation of the drum 3| will cause the projections 32 to strike or pluck in succession the elements of the reed 33, thereby producing a musical tune.

The gear wheel 34 which is driven by the gear wheel 30, will rotate along with the gear wheel 35 which will transmit its rotation to the gear wheel 35, the shaft 31 and the gea-r wheel 3B. The gear wheel 38 will turn the worm 39 which will be rotated along with the shaft 4U and the ily wheel 4|.

As soon as the lid I8 is closed (Figs. 1, 2, 3 5), the Weight 52 will be situated within the magnetic field of the magnet 54. The magnet 54 will attract the weight 52 and will move it from the lowermost position shown in Figure 4 to the uppermost position shown in Figure 3. Since the weight 52 is connected by the rod 5l with the end 4I of the lever 43, the lever 46 will swing upwardly and its projection 44 will move into the path of rotation of the ily wheel 4 I.

As soon as the ily wheel 4I strikes the projection 44 it will be stopped and the entire music box works will be stopped also.

The weight 52 remains in its uppermost position due to the force of attraction of the magnet 54 while the lid of the music box is closed.

It is apparent that the speciilc illustration shown above has been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are subject to wide variations and modifications without departing from the scope or intent of the invention. For example, a spring may be used to maintain the lever 43 in its closed position, or the music works actuated by the described magnetic switch may be substituted by some other mechanism. All such and other variations and modications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a switch for actuating a driving mecha- Cil nism, a switch member locking and releasing said driving mechanism, said switch member being movable by gravity from a locking position to a releasing position and being adapted to be raised from the releasing position to the locking position, a magnetisable member carried by said switch member, a magnet, and means connected with said magnet for moving the same close to said magnetisable member, whereby said magnetisable member is magnetised and is raised by the force of attraction of said magnet along with said switch member from the releasing position to the locking position.

2. In a switch for actuating a driving mechanism having a rotary element, said switch having a projection movable by gravity from a locking position within the path of rotation of said rotary element to a releasing position outside oi said path of rotation, and being adapted to be raised from the releasing position to the locking position; a lever carrying said projection and movable therewith, a magnetisable member connected with said lever and movable therewith. a magnet, and means connected with said magnet for moving the same close to said magnetisable member, whereby said magnetisable member is magnetised and is raised by the force of attraction of said magnet along with said projection from the releasing position to the locking position.

3. In a switch for actuating music box works having a ily wheel, and means driving said fly wheel; a pivoted lever, a projection carried by said lever and movable by gravity from a locking position within the path oi rotation of said ily wheel to a releasing position outside of said path of rotation, and being adapted to be raised from the releasing position to the locking position; a magnetisable weight connected with said lever and maintaining said lever by its weight in the releasing position, a magnet, and means connected with said magnet for moving the same close to said magnetisable weight, whereby said magnetisable weight is attracted by said magnet and is raised along with said lever and said projection, so that said projection is moved into said locking position.

4. In a switch for a music box having a bottom, side walls, and a lid; music box works carried by said bottom and including a fly wheel, and means driving said ily wheel; a pivoted lever, a projection carried by said lever and movable by gravity from a locking position within the path of rotation of said ily wheel to a releasing position outside of said path of rotation, and being adapted to be raised from the releasing position to the locking position; one of the said walls oi' said box having a chamber formed therein, an end of said lever projecting into said chamber, a rod situated within said chamber and having an end connected with said end of the lever, a magnetisable weight connected with the other end of said rod and maintaining said lever by its weight in the releasing position, said magnetisable weight being situated close to said lid, and a magnet carried by said lid and situated within a chamber formed in said lid, said magnetisable weight being situated in the magnetic eld of said magnet when said lid is closed, whereby said magnetisable weight is maintained in an attracted raised position by said manget in which said projection is situated in said locking position.

RUDOLF K. KIND. 

